Verse 5, You prepare a table before in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

“The Lord certainly makes of me a strange warrior and arms me against my enemies in an unusual manner.  I thought he should clothe me with a suit of armor, set a helmet on my head, put a sword in my hand and warn me to be cautious and on the lookout constantly, lest my enemies overtake me.  (So what does He do?)  He sits me at a table and prepares for me a feast, anoints my head with precious balsam or (as is the custom in our country) crowns me with a garland, as if I should go rejoicing and dancing and not do battle with my enemies.  And that might nothing might be lacking, he pours me a bumper+ so that immediately I drink and become drunk, joyful and high spirited.  So the prepared table is my armor, the precious balsam my helmet, the proffered overflowing cup my sword with which I overcome all my enemies.  Is this not a unique armor and an even more unique victory?”

Prayer: Gracious God, refresh us at your table so that even in hardship. We may go our way rejoicing in you.  In Christ’s name. Amen.

Yea though we pass through the valley of the shadow of death, we do so as those dancing for joy.

+A bumper is a cup or glass filled to the brim.